Date and Time

Location

Description

This orientation session will allow potential Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) participants (and anyone interested) to learn more about mindfulness and the 8 week MBSR program. It also includes a short mindfulness practice to allow you to experience mindfulness first hand, and explore if the MBSR program is suitable for you.

Importantly, this program is conducted by mindfulness teachers who have trained and qualified under the Center for Mindfulness (CFM) training pathway. They will be available to answer queries/ discuss concerns about the 8 week MBSR program to potential MBSR participants.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the capacity to pay attention to the present moment, intentionally and non-judgmentally. It is a simple skill that we are innately capable of and yet do not always call upon. This skill of paying attention can change the way we experience our surroundings and consequently how we react (reflexively) or respond (with choice) in our lives. Importantly, mindfulness is a skill that can be learned. Here is an excellent video featuring Anderson Cooper on 60 minutes, talking about mindfulness:

The 8 week MBSR course Developed to help patients with various illnesses through mindfulness, the original 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course was developed at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School more than 30 years ago. Much of current scientific research on mindfulness (showing psychological, physiological, neurobiological and cellular effects) is based upon this original MBSR course. This MBSR course has consistently shown benefits in reducing medical and psychological symptoms in many medical conditions such as chronic pain, psoriasis, etc. A short video here introduces some past research on mindfulness: